Phonograph record flash grinder



June 27, 1961 G. H. EcKsTElN PHoNoGRAPH RECORD FLASH GRINDER Filed Aug. 20, 1959 INVENTOR GEORGE H. EOKSTEIN Mb# L? ATTORNEYS United States Patent() 2,990,125 PHONOGRA-PH RECORD FLASH GRINDER George H. Eckstein, 8627 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, Calif. Filed Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 835,126 3 Claims. (Cl. 2411S6) This invention generally relates to grinding apparatus, and more particularly concerns a grinding device particularly adaptable for use in conjunction with the cutting and grinding of phonograph record liash trimmings. In a preferred application, the flash grinder of the present invention is employed in conjunction with phonograph record punching and trimming machines or equivalent devices.

In phonograph record manufacturing processes, after the record copies have been made by pressing or by moulding a suitable thermo-plastic material under heat and pressure, for example, in a book die, the records must be trimmed of the ash. In addition, it is also normally desirable at this time to punch the usual center hole.

It will be appreciated that as the record is trimmed to proper size, assuming that this operation is performed immediately after the record has been moulded, the thermoplastic material is still relatively warm and pliable. In consequence, the flash cut away from the periphery or circumferential portion of the record will tend to form elongated strips that curve and twist as they are removed.

In conventional practice, these ash trimmings are deposited in a receptacle which is emptied from time to time. It will be appreciated, however that such ash trimmings occupy a relatively large volume because of their elongated, curved shape. As a consequence, frequent emptying of the receptacle in which the trimmings are deposited must be performed in order to allow adequate space for disposal of the trimmings.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a phonograph flash grinder which will serve the function of grinding record Hash removed by trimming machines or the like to a relatively small size such that the flash will occupy a correspondingly small volume.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a phonograph record ash grinder which enables the flash being ground to ex and change shape, and yet which still effectively conveys the ash through the `apparatus in a manner preventing inadvertent throwback or the like as the ash is being ground and travels through the grinding apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally attained by providing in a phonograph flash grinder a receptacle for receiving the ilash. Preferably, the receptacle is designed for attachment to a record trimming or record trimming and punching device. In consequence, backet means are provided in conjunction with the receptacle for mounting of the receptacle on the trimming apparatus or equivalent supporting structure.

A driving roller is journaled within the receptacle for conveying the ilash in a direction downwardly through the receptacle. Cutter means are journaled within the receptacle and located downwardly of the driving roller.

In addition, power means are coupled to the roller and to the cutter means for rotating these members. Also, it is essential that inner sidewall means be provided within the receptacle to co-operate with the cutter means in grinding the ash into small particles.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely an illustrative embodiment, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the phonograph record ash grinder of the present invention illustrating 2,990,125 Patented June 27, 1961 fzce one means in which it may be attached, for example, to co-operate with a phonograph record trimming apparatus;

FIGUGRE 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken in the diA rection of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the operation of the cutters employedin conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a phonograph record flash grinder according to the present invention adapted for mounting on a supporting structure or plate 10. As illustratively shown, the plate 10 forms a part of a conventional trimming machine, which is additionally provided with a side plate 11 in which are journaled rotatable trimmers 12 and 13. Thus, in the conventional trimming operation, the flash about the circumferential portion of the molded record is trimmed oi between the trimmers 12 and 13 to be normally disposed into a waste receptacle.

In accordance with the present invention, a receptacle 14 is provided which is attachable by a bracket 15 to the side plate 11. Thus, as more clearly shown in the view of FIGURE 2, the bracket 15 is provided with a notch or recess 16 within which the edge of the plate 11 is adapted to be received. In addition, a stop or locking member 17 may also be secured to the sidewall of the receptacle 114 for more securely holding the receptacle 14 to the side plate 11. Of course, locking screws (not shown) may also be employed in conjunction with the bracket 15 and locking member 17.

The receptacle 14 generally embodies a back plate 18, side plates 19 and 20, and a front guard member 21. These elements of the receptacle 14 are clearly shown in FIGURE l.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, there is shown a shaft 22 extending laterally between the sidewalls 19 and 20. The shaft 22 may be journaled in the sidewalls 19 and 20 by respective bearings 23 and 24.

Mounted for rotation with the shaft 22 is a driving roller, generally designated by the numeral 25. The driving roller 25 comprises a Wooden core member 26, which is encircled by a .resilient sleeve 27 preferably formed from a foam rubber material. The resilient sleeve 27 is in turn encircled by an abrasive sleeve 28.

The shaft 22 is driven through means of a pulley 29 which may be mounted on a portion of the shaft extending exteriorly of the sidewall 20, as by a set screw 30. A pulley 29 is in turn driven by a belt member 31 coupled between the pulley 29 and a collar member 32.

The collar member 32 is coupled for rotation with another shaft 33 extending between the sidewalls 19 and 20 in a position downwardly from the driving roller 25. Also journaled for rotation with the shaft 33 is a gear member 34 adapted for coupling to some form of power means, for example, in the form of a driving pinion 35. The shaft 33 may be similarly journaled in appropriate bearing means 36 and 37 provided in respective sidewalls, 19 and 20.

The bottom portion of the receptacle 14 is closed off by an arcuate screen member 38, as shown clearly in the views of FIGURES 2 and 3.

In accordance with a primary feature of the present invention, a cutter means 39, as seen in the view of FIGURE 3, is coupled for rotation with the shaft 33. The cutter means 39 includes cutting edges 40 and 41 in its opposite end portions. 'Ihe cutting edges 41 are adapted to co-operate with an inner sidewall portion of the receptacle 14 in an analogous manner to a cutting bar. Towards this end, the back plate 18 may terminate at its lower end in connection with a bar 42 having a corner 43 positioned such that the cutting edges 40 and 41 are designed to co-operate therewith so as to cut and grind the ash being passed through the receptacle 14.

A clearer understanding of the importance of the flash grinder of the present invention may be had by a description of the operation. As heretofore mentioned, in the conventional record manufacturing process, the circumferential flash of the record is trimmed, as between trimmers 12 and 13 to be thereafter disposed into a waste receptacle. In accordance with the present invention, the flash trimmings are instead passed into the grinder receptacle 14. The trimmings in turn move downwardly along the back plate of the receptacle 14 to thereafter be frictionally engaged and conveyed through the receptacle by the driving lroller 25. As heretofore mentioned, the driving roller includes an inner resilient sleeve 27 and an outer abrasive sleeve 28. By using the resilient sleeve 27, various thicknesses of Hash may be accommodated while the abrasive sleeve 28 serves to frictionally engage and force the iiash through the receptacle 14. lt is also conceivable that the pulley 29 could be mounted in a spring biased bearing such that the pulley as such could oscillate back and forth a limited distance to accommodate thicknesses of the flash which may be driven between the roller and the back plate 18.

After the liash passes Idownwardly between the roller 25 and the back plate 18, it will be moved into a position adjacent the inner sidewall corner 43. ln this position, as the cutting edges 40 and 41 of the cutter 39 move into radial disposition adjacent the corner 43, the tiash will be cut. The cut particles of llash will then be ground still further to smaller particle size as the cutting edges 40 and 41 revolve in the-volume enclosed and partially defined by the screen 38.

The screen 3S serves to retain the ash within the receptacle 14 until it has been ground to a relatively small size determined by the mesh of the screen. Thereafter, the ground particles of flash are deposited in an appropriate receptacle whereby they will occupy a relatively small volume.

it is important that the ash be conveyed relatively slowly through the receptacle 14 in order to prevent inadvertent snapping or throwback of particles of flash prior to the time that the flash as such is ground, For this same reason, it is desirable that the diameter of the driving roller 25 be nearly as great as the dimension of the internal width of the receptacle 14 at this particular point. In order to drive the roller 2S slowly, a relatively large diameter pulley 29 is coupled to the collar 32, whereby the pulley 29 will revolve at an appreciably y lower velocity than the cutter 39.

It will be appreciated that although a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, many modi- 4 cations and changes may be made without departing' from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A phonograph record .flash grinder for attachment to a record .trimming structure, said grinder comprising: a receptacle for receiving said record flash; bracket means for mounting said receptacle on said trimming structure; a driving roller journaled within said receptacle for urging flash in a downward `direction through said receptacle, said driving roller including an inner resilient sleeve and :an outer abrasively coated sleeve; cutter means journaled within said receptacle downwardly of said driving roller; power means coupled to said roller and said cutter means; and,` inner sidewall means within said -receptacle for directing flash from said roller downwardly to said cutter means, said sidewall means also co-functioning with said cutter means for grinding of said flash.

2. A phonograph record flash grinder for attachment to a grinder trimming structure, said grinder comprising: a receptacle for receiving said record flash, said receptacle having a tapered construction such that its upper end portion is of greater area than its lower end portion; bracket means for mounting said receptacle on said t-rimming structure, a rst shaft journaled for rotation within said receptacle; a driving roller coupled for rotation with said first shaft, said driving roller including an outer abrasive sleeve and an inner resilient sleeve, said driving roller being provided for urging liash in a direction downwardly through said receptacle; a second shaft journaled within said receptacle downwardly of said driving roller; cutter means mounted for rotation on said second shaft; power means coupled to said tirst and second shafts; and, inner sidewall means within said receptacle co-operating with said cutter means.

3. A phonograph record ash grinder for attachment to a record trimming structure, according to claim 2, in which said driving roller has a diameter substantially equal to the inner width of said receptacle at the position of said driving roller therein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Apr. 16, 1941 

